HR's Sherry Schilling explains benefits of tuition fee waiver

Sherry Schilling

by Becky Stephenson, human resources

Sherry Schilling is the senior benefits generalist in human resources at Miami. I caught up with Sherry to talk about a valuable benefit, the tuition fee waiver, that is offered to employees working at Miami University.

Q: Sherry, what is a tuition fee waiver benefit and who can use it? How do employees request one?

A: The tuition fee waiver benefit is for full-time employees (and certain part-time employees). The eligibility for the benefit can be found in the Miami University Policy & Information Manual (MUPIM) section 4.10. It's a wonderful benefit for the employee, spouse/partner and their eligible dependent children, allowing many to attend Miami University at a significant reduction in cost. Employees can request a tuition fee waiver by logging into BannerWeb Employee Services online or clicking on the Tuition Fee Waiver section on the Employee tab in MyMiami.

Q: What is new about the tuition fee waiver application process for 2015?

A: The process is streamlined for 2015. Employees no longer need to submit the notarized Dependent Affidavit when requesting a fee waiver for dependent children. The Dependent Certification has replaced the Affidavit and can be submitted online within the BannerWeb screen. This speeds up the process from previous years.

Q: Is there a deadline to request a tuition fee waiver?

A: The "soft" deadline for submission of a tuition fee waiver request for the 2015-2016 academic year is June 30, 2015. Requests can still be submitted after that date, but the student's bursar bill won't initially reflect the waiver. However, adjustments can be made to the bill after it's released.

Q: If employees have questions, where can they go for more information and who in the benefits department can assist them?

A: The Benefits & Wellness website has additional information on the tuition fee waiver benefit. You can also contact me directly at schillsl@miamioh.edu or 529-2148.